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COVID-19 vaccine town hall held Tuesday

February 3, 2021–6:00 a.m.’

STAFF REPORTS

Around 150 people participated in a COVID-19 virtual town hall via Zoom Tuesday evening.

Participants were able to ask questions about the vaccine and get the latest updates from the Georgia Department of Public Health, Redmond Regional Medical Center, Floyd Medical Center and Harbin Clinic.

Dr. Gary Voccio, health director for the 10-county Northwest Health District said the vaccine remains a precious commodity.

“We have to be prudent with our vaccines and we cannot waste any,” he said.  “When we ask for vaccines, hopefully we will get them.   However, this week we only got about 25% of the vaccines we requested through the state.  It’s unfortunate, but that’s what we are dealing with on a week to week basis.”

Dr. Voccio said that a new Johnson and Johnson vaccine could be a game changer.

“It can be kept in a regular refrigerator for six months,” he added. “It’s a one-dose vaccine and what’s called an adenoviral vector, meaning it’s a cold virus.  These first doses reduce COVID-19 infection by 72%.  At 28 days, it reduces severe infection by 85%, but at 49 days it reduces severe infection by 100%.”

There could be 100 million doses of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine available nationwide by June.

The hour-long town hall was sponsored by One Community United and the City of Rome.

You can view the entire town hall HERE

You will need to enter access pass code: &6Yt54pn